Transcript Slide 1

European Union
The CoR views on the future
development of territorial cooperation in the European Union
Jurmala, 14.06.2012
Welcome to the
DIRECTORATE E
THOMAS WOBBEN
Committee of the
Regions
Scope of the presentation

The CoR – short overview

The case for territorial co-operation

The views of the CoR regarding territorial cooperation

Practical steps towards mainstreaming
interregional co-operation

Europe 2020 and interregional co-operation
The Committee of the Regions
3
The CoR – short overview (1)
 Advisory body (art. 305 et seq.TFEU), political assembly
of the EU, representing local and regional authorities
 Created by Maastricht Treaty in 1993
 344 members (plus 344 alternates), proposed by Member
States, formally appointed by the Council, five-year
renewable term of office
 Five plenary sessions per year
 Six thematic commissions
The CoR – short overview (2)
European Economic &
Social Committee
Council of the EU
CONSULTATION
DECISION
European Parliament
CODECISION
European Commission
PROPOSAL
CONSULTATION
=> OPINION
The Case for interregional co-operation
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The case for territorial co-operation
Globalisation and European integration:
 Global
challenges:
Economic
globalisation,
demographic change, migration flows, climate change,
energy.
 European integration: EU enlargement, Single Market
EMU and EURO area, enlargement of the Schengen
area, Lisbon Treaty.
 Localisation: Single territories are directly faced with
challenges and have access to opportunities of a larger
magnitude and which requires pooling of resources.
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The case for territorial co-operation
Multi-level governance and subsidiarity:
 National policies have less of an influence on
economic and regional development.
 More responsibilities for Regional and Local Authorities
in the European Union policies.
 Institutional changes in the Member States: devolution,
decentralisation and reform of federalism.
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The case for territorial co-operation
The public expenditure goes subnational:
 The LRA are the source of 60%
of public investment in the EU
 Their
responsibilities
are
increasing
for
sustainable
development and services to be
provided to the citizens
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The case for territorial co-operation
In order to deliver effective policy, we need to:
 Address optimal functional areas of intervention, which
cross the traditional administrative boundaries and national
frontiers;
 Group authorities from different institutional level and
nationality, responding to variable composition of needs and
blend of competencies;
 Therefore, to foster territorial cooperation across and
beyond the European Union.
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The Commission Proposal on Territorial
Co-operation and on mainstreaming
territorial co-operation
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Proposed funding for Territorial Co-operation
Less developed regions/MS
Transition regions
500
100
Cohesion Fund¹
Less developed regions
90
15,8
%
80
11,6
%
68.7
162.6
More developed regions
450
400
Transition regions
38.9
70
350
More developed regions
53.1 60
300
European Territorial
Cooperation
11.7 50
250
40
Outermost regions and
sparsely populated
areas
Total
0.9
30
68,7
%
200
150
20
100
336.0 10
50
72,4
119,2
0
0
¹ €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be
allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility
307.1
Budget allocation
(in %)
Population covered
(in millions)
European Territorial Cooperation
• Crossborder
European Territorial Cooperation
• Transnational
European Territorial Cooperation
• Interregional
Draft General Regulation (Art. 87)
2. An operational programme shall set out:
(c) the contribution to the integrated
approach for territorial development set
out in the Partnership Contract, including:
– (v) the arrangements for interregional and
transnational actions with beneficiaries
located in at least one other Member State;
Draft ERDF Regulation Art. 3
Scope of support from the ERDF
1. The ERDF shall support:
• (d) development of endogenous potential by
supporting regional and local development and
research and innovation. These measures shall
include:
– (iv) networking, cooperation and exchange of
experience between regions, towns, and relevant
social, economic and environmental actors;
The CoR Position on Territorial Cooperation
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CoR Opinion on Territorial Co-operation
DRAFT OPINION of the Committee of the Regions
Rapporteur: Mr Osvald (CZ/PES)
“PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL
COOPERATION”
• “agrees that interregional cooperation should aim to reinforce the
effectiveness of cohesion policy by encouraging exchange of experience
between regions and by harnessing the results of this exchange under the
Growth and Jobs objective. The Committee feels that this exchange of
experience should be broad-based and that its role should not be limited to
complementing FP7”
• welcomes the endeavour to improve coordination between European
Territorial Cooperation programmes and other cohesion policy instruments
• Adoption planned at CoR Plenary at 18./19.07.2012
Schneider Opinion on the future of cohesion policy
•
“suggests that European cohesion policy could be used as a key tool for involving
local and regional authorities in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy as part of this
territorial pact. Steps should be taken, in all areas supported by European cohesion
policy, to enable "territorial pacts" to be used to mobilise key local stakeholders to
achieve the priorities and headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy;
•
to this end, advocates developing additional rules, within the framework of the
cohesion policy objectives, that will allow local and regional authorities to play an
active role in achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's growth priorities and headline
targets as part of their operational programmes;
•
proposes organising networking and exchanges of information between local and
regional authorities in the context of the "European territorial cooperation" objective,
with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's priorities and headline targets,
making use of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation scheme if
appropriate.”
•
OPINION of the Committee of the Regions
Rapporteur:
Dr Michael Schneider, State Secretary for Federal and European
Affairs (DE/EPP)
CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION POLICY TO THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY
The Europe 2020 challenge for
Interregional Co-operation
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The Europe 2020 targets
1. Employment
– 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed
2. R&D / innovation
– 3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be
invested in R&D/innovation
3. Climate change / energy
– greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if a satisfactory
international agreement can be achieved to follow Kyoto) lower
than 1990 , 20% of energy from renewables and 20%
increase in energy efficiency
4. Education
– Reducing school drop-out rates below 10%
– at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level
education (or equivalent)
5. Poverty / social exclusion
– at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and
social exclusion
23
Employment Rate 20 - 64
Early School leavers
Population aged 30-34 with a tertiary education
Total expenditure on R&D
The European Grouping of Territorial cooperation
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Engagement of the CoR regarding EGTC
 Political impulse
2 own-initiative opinions about EGTC, 2008 and
2011
 Sharing experience
Expert Group, then EGTC Platform
 Information and debate
Joint consultation in 2010
Workshops and stands during the Open Days
3 studies and annual report since 2010
 Public registry of EGTC
Art. 5 of Regulation (EC) 1082/2006
The EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis?
EGTC can contribute....
IF....
Sustainable cooperation
structure:
Less bureaucracy, security for
staff, long-term projects
possible.
...IF EGTC does not adds on to existing
bureaucracy (multiplication of organs,
bodies, control levels, etc)
... IF financial security of is ensured
(long-term commitments of members)
... IF EGTC is „entitled to“ and has
capacity to run projects
Implementing EU2020:
-> EGTC can act in most areas
covered by EU2020 (if its
members have such competence)
... IF EGTCs can be associated to
programming and/or implementing
programmes
... IF EGTCs have sufficient resources
(some budgets are very restrictive and
subject to annual decisions)
Economies of scale:
contracting/implementing on
behalf of its members (e.g.
infrastructure)
...IF cross-border public procurement is
made easier (proposals underway)
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The EGTC Platform





Its it integrated by all the EGTCs existing, the
EGTCs in constitution, experts and different
organisations of support
Open to other cross-border structures.
Launched the 28 January 2011 in Brussels
Online forum www.cor.europa.eu/egtc
Contact: [email protected]
Thank you for your
attention